Ongoing Care for Patients on Dialysis

Dialysis is more than just a machine treatment — it involves regular medical care and support from a full health care team.

  • Doctor visits: Your kidney doctor (nephrologist) and treating providers see you regularly while you are receiving dialysis. During these visits, they:
    • Monitor your overall health and check for any new symptoms.
    • Manage blood pressure, which is very important for protecting your heart and remaining kidney function.
    • Adjust the dialysis treatment by changing machine settings, treatment time, or fluid removal goals to make sure you are getting safe and effective dialysis.
    • Review and adjust your medications such as blood pressure medicines, bone and mineral supplements, anemia treatments, or other prescriptions to match your changing needs.
    • Discuss transplant evaluation or other long-term plans if appropriate.
  • Lab tests: Each month, blood is drawn to check important minerals such as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, as well as other markers that show how well dialysis is working. Your doctor reviews these results with you and adjusts your care plan as needed.
  • Diet support: Every dialysis unit has a certified dietitian who works closely with you. A kidney-friendly diet is very important because your kidneys and dialysis cannot remove everything from your body on their own.
    • You may need to limit salt, potassium, and phosphorus to protect your heart, bones, and overall health.
    • Protein is especially important for patients on dialysis to help keep muscles strong and support healing.
    • Your dietitian will also guide you on how much fluid you can drink each day, since too much water between dialysis sessions can cause swelling and strain your heart.
    • They will meet with you regularly to review your lab results, answer questions, and suggest food choices that fit your lifestyle and culture.
  • Social support: A social worker is also part of your dialysis team. They can help with emotional support, planning, insurance questions, and connecting you to community resources.

This ongoing care ensures that you receive not only the dialysis treatment itself, but also the medical, nutritional, and emotional support needed to live as well as possible with kidney disease.